The Best Part of Waking Up
If Disney movies taught anything, it’s that I shouldn’t touch sharp glowing spindles, let wonky-eyed hags into my house, and that only a man could wake me from the deepest sleep.
While I have yet to invite a witch into my home, or even know what a spindle is, I do know one man who can wake me up from any slumber: Mr. Coffee.
From dorm room to apartment complex, this guy has been with me through the thick and the thin, but it is time to move on. It’s 2018, and much like my UGG boots and Abercrombie and Fitch sweaters, I have to let go and find something more fitting for my age.
Like choosing a partner, finding the right coffee maker is very personal and can be tricky, but it can be made easy.
Have a question about coffee on a Paleo diet? Read this article.
Why Keep It Simple?
If you’re like me, and don’t want to deal with an intricate brewing process, then a drip coffee maker is the best fit for you. It is hard for me to imagine configuring settings on a machine or putting together a French press when I still haven’t convinced myself I’m awake yet.
Electric drip coffee brewers solve this problem by having settings that allow you to set timers to brew at specific times, thus reducing the risk of injury early in the morning. Electric drip coffee makers are typically simple in design and their ease of use allows virtually anyone to make a pot of coffee in minutes.
Additionally, automatic coffee makers are a best fit for those who prefer a mild cup of coffee. So if you don’t like espresso, stick to the drip.
What’s the best Paleo coffee sweetener? Find out here.
There Are Plenty More Fish in the Sea
So, why move on from what works? In a time where French presses and espresso machines are becoming more of a household item, traditional coffee machines are evolving to fit the needs of coffee lovers who still want to keep it simple.
Today, more models have heating elements that are able to get very hot, whereas older automatic coffee makers have difficulty reaching the optimal brewing range. More and more individuals can brew industry-style coffee in their own home without spending an arm and a leg on new coffee equipment.
The Best Catch
After looking at the top-rated coffee makers on Amazon based on user reviews, we have come up with five automatic coffee makers that could potentially be your next long-term relationship.
BEST SELLER: BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black, CM1160B
The smallest features truly make the biggest changes when looking at this 12-cup coffee maker from Black + Decker. Like most coffee makers, this machine has a water window, which prevents overflow along with the “Sneak-a-Cup” feature that lets you get a cup of coffee before brewing finishes and without a mess.
This coffee maker also has a nice safety feature: a 2 hour auto shutoff for peace of mind whenever leaving the house. Additionally, the filter basket is dishwasher safe and compatible with basket-style paper filters, which makes cleanup fast and easy.
Forty-eight percent of users gave this product 5 stars and preferred the affordable price point, along with the ease of use. However, because of the affordability and basic design, some customers believed that the product didn’t feel as durable and that it was pretty average. Fortunately, multiple users commented on how the coffee maker looks significantly like Darth Vader, so if you like Star Wars, maybe this coffee maker is for you.
NOTE: Black + Decker also makes a 12-cup Thermal coffee maker (BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Black/Silver, CM2035B), which allows brewed coffee to stay hot hours after being made.
A STEP-UP: Hamilton Beach 49980A Single Serve Coffee Brewer and Full Pot Coffee Maker, 2-Way
Whether you are making coffee for the office or simply for yourself, Hamilton Beach provides both options with their dual single serve and full pot coffee brewer. While the travel mug is not included, users were still very pleased with this feature and noted that every single cup of coffee was “terrific”.
Two customers also commented on how well having a dual coffee maker works in their household since some prefer lightly brewed coffee, while others like dark-roasted coffee.
The best thing about the single serve coffee feature was the concept of it being more eco-friendly than K-cups, and also saving more money in the long run. A few users mentioned that the water fill section in the back of the unit was a bit small, which made filling it a bit awkward.
Overall, the majority of customers said they used the single serve feature more than the full pot portion, but both performed very well. With 67% of reviews giving the product 5 stars, it comes as no surprise that users were happy with their purchase.
FANCY: Cuisinart DCC-3200 14-Cup Glass Carafe with Stainless Steel Handle Programmable Coffeemaker, Silver
Majority of automatic coffee makers struggle with hitting the optimal brewing temperature, but that is no problem with the Cuisinart 14-cup coffee maker. Users who upgraded to this coffee maker, stated that coffee was more flavorful since the brewed coffee was much hotter.
Furthermore, other users who previously owned the Cuisinart 1200 model did a side-by-side comparison and found that the 3200 model was an excellent replacement and worth the extra money.
One complaint from a customer was the need to get water filter replacements and that pouring the water into the machine was a slow process in an attempt to avoid making a mess.
Despite this, the majority of users agreed that the flavor of the coffee made by the 3200 couldn’t be beat and that Cuisinart made a great upgrade.
Overall, with 65% of customers giving 5 star ratings, this Cuisinart is worth the investment.
BUNN GRB Velocity Brew 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer, Black
If you need a pot of coffee in 3 minutes, then Bunn’s 10-cup Velocity Brewer is for you. This coffee maker not only allows not only a pot of coffee to be brewed in minutes, but also a greater interaction between hot water and coffee grounds for better flavor extraction.
With 66% of users giving the coffee maker 5 stars, it comes as no surprise that the investment is worth it. Customers praised the shelf life and warranty of the coffee maker and claimed the quality makes it worth the extra cost.
A few users were unsatisfied with the delivery process of their coffee machine but the machine consistently performed well. Therefore, if you need a lot of quality coffee in a short amount of time, then this coffee machine from Bunn is for you.
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU: Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker, Black
As an honorable mention, it was only fitting that I include Mr. Coffee in this list. If you are on a tight budget, or just needing a quick caffeine fix, or maybe just want to try out this coffee craze, then this is probably your best bet.
For one person, it gets the job done, but it is not best for large groups. Also, there is no automatic shut off feature, so remember to turn it off before leaving the house. With 61% of users giving this cute little coffee maker 5 stars, it is clear that it is the perfect match for some.
Final Thoughts
From offices to college dorms, having an coffee maker is essential for those who need to jump start their morning. Finding the perfect coffee maker can be as stressful as finding the perfect mate, but it doesn’t have to be.
All of these automatic coffee makers have their pros and cons, but ultimately perform and get you a great cup of coffee. Between a mate and a coffee maker, only one is going to be there for you every morning. The choice is yours.
Why should I listen to you?
More than ever, people are focused on their health and well-being. And, because of this increased interest, that means there are tons of products on the market to help achieve that goal. From kitchen gadgets that make cooking easier, to reusable water bottles, sleep aids, and workout gear, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming.
That’s why we wanted to do the hard work for you. We’ve committed to trying out some of the most popular health and wellness products on Amazon. Here’s what happens:
We scour Amazon for the best rated or most reviewed products in health and wellness categories: whether that’s something for the kitchen, supplements, or lifestyle products. Then, we order and try them. We give each product a spin – being as unbiased as possible.
Next, we write up our thoughts, our experiences with the product, and any feedback we may have. And we publish it here for you. You’ll find the links to the same exact Amazon products we tried in these articles.
That’s it – easy! And if you have a product you’d like us to try before you buy, let us know.
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